Computerized recording and notification of the delivery and pickup of retail goods

ABSTRACT

Openings and closings of a secured storage receptacle are logged to record the transfer of items. The system gains access to a signal-transmitting receptacle; transmits a first confirmation signal to a mobile transmission node; processes the first confirmation signal at the mobile transmission node; transmits a second confirmation signal to a central server; and notifies a consumer of the delivery with an electronic message. This process allows the transfer of items by a delivery carrier using a delivery truck equipped with central processing unit that allows delivery confirmation signals to be received from the signal-transmitting receptacle. The signal transmitted from the signal-transmitting receptacle is coupled to the opening and closing of the storage box.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/297,246filed Dec. 3, 2002, incorporated herein by reference, which claimspriority from and incorporates by reference U.S. application Ser. Nos.60/209,149 filed Jun. 3, 2001; 60/228,555 filed Aug. 28, 2000; and60/245,504 filed on Nov. 2, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the secure transfer of retail goods toa consumer and using a wireless communication system and a computernetwork to notify the consumer of such transfer via an electronicmessage.

With demands on people's time seemingly increasing without end, peopleare always pursuing ways to efficiently accomplish simple, timeconsuming tasks. Many of these tasks involve shopping trips where onlyone or two items are immediately needed. Accordingly, services which candeliver goods to a consumer's residence in a short period of time arehighly desirable.

The delivery of goods to a consumer's residence, such as through anexpress mail service, has proven to be problematic at times. Oftentimes, a delivery will be attempted when nobody is home. In such acircumstance, the package can be left outside the residence where it issusceptible to theft, or the package can be taken back with the deliverycarrier and delivery attempted at another time. Accordingly, effortshave been made to facilitate the delivery of goods through securedreceptacles which would allow parcels to be left at a residence withoutthe threat of theft.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,910, a secured receptacle is disclosed in which aparcel delivered through the mail may be deposited. The securedreceptacle also possesses a machine-readable indicium which allows acentral server and a paging receiver to notify a person about thedelivery of a parcel. A computerized delivery-acceptance system isdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,750 in which a computer-controlledaccess or locking mechanism guarantees secure delivery of packages.

Notification of the delivery of a parcel is also desirable in somecircumstances. Several methods and devices are known in the art whichserve this purpose. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,748, a method is provided forthe notification of the delivery of express mail through a wireless pagemessage. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,282, an audible or visual signal isgenerated within a dwelling when mail delivery has been made to thatresidence.

A storage device that secures goods from theft and exposure to theelements and also provides notification that items have been deliveredor removed from the device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,053. Inthe preferred embodiment of the invention, a key pad is located on thestorage device which allows access through the entry of a specific code.Each specific vendor is given a unique code thereby allowing the ownerof the box to be notified of which vendor had visited the storagedevice. Notifying the owner that a delivery has been made to a storagedevice occurs through transmitting the vendor code to a remote locationthrough a telecommunications network.

A previous approach to some of these concerns is described in PCTpublication WO 01/27740, published Apr. 19, 2001, assigned to the sameassignee as the present application, which publication is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards the logging of openings andclosings of a secured storage receptacle to record the transfer ofitems. The method encompassed by the present invention comprises thefollowing steps:

(a) gaining access to a signal-transmitting receptacle;

(b) transmitting a first confirmation signal to a mobile transmissionnode;

(c) processing the first confirmation signal at the mobile transmissionnode;

(c) transmitting a second confirmation signal to a central server; and

(d) notifying a consumer of the delivery with an electronic message.

The above process allows the transfer of items by a delivery carrierusing a delivery truck equipped with central processing unit that allowsdelivery confirmation signals to be received from thesignal-transmitting receptacle. The signal transmitted from thesignal-transmitting receptacle is coupled to the opening and closing ofthe e-box.

Once a transfer of items has been confirmed by the central processingunit, a signal is sent from the delivery truck to a remote centralserver. The central server is connected to the Internet, allowing theconsumer to be notified about the transfer through an email message, aposting on a web site, or through an electronic panel within theconsumer's residence.

The present invention also encompasses a computerized package transfersystem for logging a transfer of a retail good, the computerized packagetransfer system comprising:

(a) a signal-transmitting receptacle;

(b) a central server;

(c) a wireless transmission path from the signal-transmitting receptacleto the central server for transmitting a transfer confirmation signalfrom the signal-transmitting receptacle to the central server; and

(d) a computer network system connected to the central server.

In the present invention, the wireless transmission path includes atleast one transmission node, namely the delivery vehicle which iscapable of receiving and transmitting transfer confirmation signals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be described with respect to a drawing in severalfigures, of which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a method according to the invention forlogging the transfer of a retail good delivered to a consumer;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a method according to the invention forlogging the transfer of a retail good involved in a return;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method according to the invention forlogging the transfer of a retail good that is the object of a service;and

FIG. 4 shows in functional block diagram form the passage of messages ina system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the transfer of retail goods wherethe consumer is subsequently notified that such transfer has occurred.The notification of the consumer is facilitated through a series ofwireless communications and a subsequent electronic communication.

A retail good in the present invention comprises any good or servicethat a consumer can purchase remotely, such as through the Internet orover the telephone, and involves the delivery or pickup of a tangibleitem. Such retail goods, for example, include perishable and packageddry goods. In addition, retail goods include items associated withconvenience services. For example, movie rentals and the dry cleaning ofclothing are retail goods as envisioned in this invention, although such“products” are closely related to the performance of a service. Thepresent invention contemplates a retail good as anything which can bedelivered and picked up at a consumer's residence by a delivery carrierand stored in a signal-transmitting receptacle shown at 60 in FIG. 4.Thus, the present invention contemplates the transfer of retail goods,which includes not only the delivery of items, but also the pickup ofitems.

The signal-transmitting receptacle also serves as a secured receptaclein order to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of retail goods. Thereare no limitations on the size of the receptacle other than that thereceptacle must be large enough to accommodate the delivery of retailgoods. Securing the receptacle involves two variables: securing theinterior so that the contents of the receptacle remain safe, andsecuring the receptacle itself so as to minimize risk of theft regardingthe receptacle itself.

Securing the receptacle itself may be accomplished by many means, suchas attaching the receptacle to the exterior side of a house or boltingthe bottom of the interior to the ground. However, the preferredembodiment of the invention is to secure the bottom of the receptacle toa separate platform base that has a large weight, such as 120 pounds. Aplatform base of this mass allows the receptacle to be moved relativelyeasy, yet provides a sufficient deterrent to theft.

The receptacle possesses a locking means to prevent unauthorized accessto the receptacle. Several different locking means exist, such as asimple lock and key. In the preferred embodiment of the invention,consumers and delivery carriers use a wireless key to unlock thereceptacle. A wireless key may preferably be any type of electronicdevice known in the art that is capable of transmitting an ultra-lowfrequency radio wave, whereby the ultra-low frequency radio waveconsists of an unlocking signal that is received by a receiving meansattached to the receptacle.

The wireless key transmits the unlocking signal which is accepted by thereceiving means of the receptacle. While any type of receiving meansknown in the art can be used, the preferred embodiment is a two-waywireless link which receives the unlocking signal, processes the signal,and inactivates the lock.

While those skilled in the art will recognize that many differentelectronic embodiments are possible to produce a device that comprises awireless key, the preferred embodiment is conveniently shaped to beabout the size of a credit card. The wireless key possesses anintegrated circuit that controls the transmission of the unlockingsignal to the receptacle, and a programmable memory for storing theunlocking signal for a delivery carrier or consumer. A programmingdevice is used to program the specific unlocking signal that will betransmitted by the wireless key.

Several types of wireless keys are possible, but the preferredembodiments are a standard wireless key, a high security key and adelivery key. The standard wireless key possess an “open” button thatenables any person possessing that wireless key to gain access to thereceptacle. The high security wireless key possesses a number pad or keypad for entering a personal identification number. A high securitywireless key ensures that mere possession of a wireless key does notpermit access to the receptacle and that the person accessing thereceptacle must possess an appropriate personal identification number. Adelivery wireless key allows a delivery carrier, who needs access tomany different receptacles, to conveniently access different receptacleswith only one key.

A delivery of the retail good occurs by a delivery carrier and adelivery vehicle, shown at 61 in FIG. 4. A delivery is made when thedelivery carrier gains access to a consumer's receptacle using thedelivery wireless key, opens the lid, places the retail goods in thereceptacle, and re-secures the receptacle by closing the lid. Uponcompleting the delivery of the retail goods, a series of wirelesssignals is transmitted from the receptacle to a central server. Thecentral server records the delivery and then sends an electroniccommunication to the consumer regarding the delivery.

Transmitting the series of wireless signals which notify the centralserver of the delivery can occur by various means. For instance, adelivery carrier could use a cellular phone, call atelecommunications-central server system, and enter a numerical codeindicating the completion of a delivery. The central server would thenreceive the confirmation numerical code and such confirmation would berecorded by the central server. In this case, only one transmission of awireless signal in the “series of wireless transmissions” occurs.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention involves thetransmission of two wireless signals. The first wireless signal (62 inFIG. 4) is transmitted by way of a printed circuit board with thetwo-way wireless link that operates at a (preferably) ultra-lowfrequency. A first antenna integrated with the circuit board receivessignals from the wireless key and also transmits the first wirelesssignal. A “D” size alkaline battery is used to power this end of thetwo-way wireless link.

The first wireless signal is received by a second antenna coupled with acentral processing unit on the delivery carrier's vehicle, shown at 61in FIG. 4. The central processing unit can be of any kind known in theart, so long as the central processing unit possesses an input means,such as a keyboard or key pad, and an output means, such as a monitor.In a preferred embodiment, the system is used by the delivery carrier toconfirm information regarding the delivery, including time, date, anditems delivered. Such information is then transmitted by a secondwireless transmission (63 in FIG. 4) from the central processing unit 61to the central server 64. The second wireless transmission may be madeby any means known in the art, with the preferred embodiment employing acellular wireless network, such as the Mobitex network via a RIM 902MRadio Modem that is manufactured by Research in Motion, Ltd.

The second transmission, preferably wireless, can be received by anytype of computer system which can process the wireless transmission andrecord the information associated with the delivery. The preferredembodiment of the invention contemplates a central server that comprisessoftware to handle order taking as well as merchandise returns.

In yet another embodiment, a status panel (65 in FIG. 4) is installed atthe customer's premises. The status panel is communicatively coupled tothe central computer system according to the invention, for example bymeans of the Internet. The status panel is able to receive signals fromthe secure receptacle. It may then pass along information from suchsignals to the central computer system.

Once a transfer of items has been confirmed by the central processingunit, a signal is sent from the delivery truck to a remote centralserver. The central server is connected to the Internet, allowing theconsumer to be notified about the transfer through an email message (66in FIG. 4), a posting on a web site (67 in FIG. 4), or through anelectronic panel within the consumer's residence (65 in FIG. 4).

The reason for the use of two links will now be described. Thetransmitter in the box is, as mentioned above, powered by a battery. Thebattery may be replaceable or may be integrally packaged with the restof the box. In either case, battery life is a significant concern. Theenergy budget of the system necessarily includes the energy involved intransmitting data signals from the box to points outside of the box.Depending on antenna configuration and other factors, the amount ofpower required to transmit a signal to a particular distance mayincrease as the square of that distance. Indeed for some antenna designs(those approximating a dipole) the power required may increase as thecube of the distance. As a consequence, the system according to theinvention attempts to maximize battery life by minimizing the distanceover which the first wireless signal needs to be propagated. Mostimportantly, the communications path from the box to a central computerhas at least two links—a first wireless link spanning a limiteddistance, and a second link spanning a much greater distance.

The delivery truck, which is one choice for the “relay” point betweenthe box and the central system, has a power supply that is largecompared with that of the box. This permits wireless transmissions fromthe truck at far higher power levels than from the box. Similarly, if areceiver in the customer premises is employed as the relay point, it toois likely to have a much larger power supply, such as an AC adaptorconnected to the electric power of the house.

It will be appreciated that in the system according to the invention, itis helpful to know whether the box is able to reach the truck or theresidential relay point. For this reason, the system preferably has a“test mode” which can be selected, typically at the time of initialinstallation of the box. In test mode, the box is open, and then closed.Closing the box prompts the box to transmit a signal. If the signal isreceived, then an annunciation is provided, for example an audiblesignal. The installer listens for the signal. If the signal is notheard, then the installer may consider repositioning the box, checkingits battery, or installing a different box, perhaps one with a differentantenna configuration.

As mentioned above, the customer may be notified of the delivery throughany type of electronic messaging known in the art. Such methods includepaging or a recorded telephone message. The preferred embodiment of thecurrent invention contemplates the sending of one or more of thefollowing electronic messages to notify the consumer of the delivery: 1)an e-mail message that is sent to the customer, 2) an electronic messagethat is posted on a web site wherein the customer can gain access to theweb site and view the electronic message, and 3) an electronic messagethat may be posted to an electronic panel located within the customer'sresidence.

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed at a method andsystem for logging the transfer of a retail good. In one embodiment ofthe invention, a consumer purchases from a seller a retail good by via atelecommunications means, such as the Internet. This is shown forexample at 10 in FIGS. 1 or 2. The seller subsequently sends a purchaseconfirmation e-mail message to the consumer. To deliver the retail good,a delivery vehicle is dispatched to a signal-transmitting receptaclethat is used by the consumer.

The delivery carrier gains access to the signal-transmitting receptacleby use of a delivery access key. The delivery carrier places the retailgood in the signal-transmitting receptacle and closes thesignal-transmitting receptacle. This is shown at 11 in FIGS. 1 or 2.After closing the receptacle, a first wireless signal is transmittedfrom the signal-transmitting receptacle via a two-way wireless link.

The first wireless signal is received by a transmission node on thedelivery truck, the transmission node comprising a central processingunit and an antenna. The central processing unit on the delivery truckpresents to the delivery carrier information regarding the delivery,such as a date and a time of the delivery and a serial number associatedwith the delivery wireless key used by the delivery carrier to gainaccess to the receptacle. Upon the confirming the data, the deliveryinformation is transmitted through a second wireless signal via acellular wireless network from the central processing unit to a centralserver. This is shown at 12 in FIGS. 1 or 2.

The consumer is notified of the delivery from the central server by anelectronic message, such as an e-mail, a message on the status panel, ora posting on a web site. The consumer subsequently gains access to thesignal-transmitting receptacle with a user wireless access key. Theconsumer removes the retail good from the receptacle, closes thereceptacle, and, inspects the retail good. This is shown at 13 in FIG.1.

Upon discovering the retail good need to be returned for some reason,the consumer informs the seller the retail good needs to be returned tothe seller. This is shown at 14 in FIG. 2. The seller acknowledges thatthe retail good will be accepted for return by the seller. Thereafter,the consumer gains access to the receptacle with the user wireless key,places the retail good to be returned in the receptacle by the consumer,and closes the receptacle.

The delivery carrier drives the delivery vehicle to the receptacle usedby the consumer and gains access to the receptacle using the deliverywireless key. The delivery carrier removes the retail good from thereceptacle and closes the receptacle. This is shown at 15 in FIG. 2.

Upon closing the receptacle, the first wireless signal is received bythe transmission node on the delivery truck. The central processing uniton the delivery truck presents to the delivery carrier informationregarding the pickup, such as a date and a time of the pickup and aserial number associated with the delivery wireless key used by thedelivery carrier to gain access to the receptacle.

Upon the confirming the data, the delivery information is transmittedthrough the second wireless signal via the cellular wireless networkfrom the central processing unit to the central server. The consumer isnotified of the pickup from the central server by an electronic message,such as an e-mail, a message on the status panel, or a posting on a website. This is shown at 16 in FIG. 2.

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed at a method andsystem for logging a transfer of a retail good that is associated with aservice provided by a seller, such as dry cleaning. In one embodiment ofthe invention, a consumer purchases a service through the Internet or atelephone order from a seller wherein the seller will perform a serviceupon the retail good of the consumer. This is shown at 30 in FIG. 3. Forinstance, the consumer may wish to have the seller dry clean a suit.

Upon receiving the order, the seller sends a purchase confirmatione-mail message to the consumer. The consumer then gains access to asignal-transmitting receptacle by a user wireless key. The consumer thenplaces the retail good in the receptacle and closes the receptacle.

A delivery vehicle is dispatched by the seller and is driven by adelivery carrier to the receptacle used by the consumer. The deliverycarrier gains access to the receptacle by using a delivery wireless key.The delivery carrier removes the retail good in the receptacle andcloses the receptacle. This is shown at 31 in FIG. 3.

Upon closing the receptacle, a first wireless signal from the receptacleis transmitted via a two-way wireless link. The first wireless signal isreceived by a transmission node on the delivery truck, comprising acentral processing unit and an antenna. The central processing unitconfirms a plurality of data comprising a date and a time of a transferof the retail good and a serial number associated with the deliverywireless key used by the delivery carrier to gain access to thereceptacle. This is shown at 32 in FIG. 3.

When the information is confirmed, the plurality of data is transmittedthrough a second wireless signal via a cellular wireless network fromthe central processing unit to a central server. The consumer of thetransfer from the central server by an electronic message, such as ane-mail, a posting on a web site, and a message on a status panel at theconsumer's residence.

After receiving the retail good, the seller performs the serviceinvolving the retail good. Thereafter, the delivery carrier drives thedelivery vehicle to the receptacle used by the consumer to return theretail good. The delivery carrier gains access to the receptacle usingthe delivery wireless key, places the retail good in the receptacle, andcloses the receptacle. This is shown at 33 in FIG. 3.

When the receptacle is closed, the first wireless signal from thereceptacle is transmitted via the two-way wireless link. The firstwireless signal is received by the transmission node on the deliverytruck. The central processing unit confirms the plurality of datacomprising the date and the time of the transfer of the retail good andthe serial number associated with the delivery wireless key used by thedelivery carrier to gain access to the receptacle.

When the information is confirmed, the plurality of data is transmittedthrough the second wireless signal via the cellular wireless networkfrom the central processing unit to the central server. The consumerlearns of the transfer from the central server by an electronic message,such as an e-mail, a posting on a web site, and a message on a statuspanel at the consumer's residence. This is shown at 34 in FIG. 3 Theconsumer then gains access to the receptacle with the user wireless key,removes the retail good from the receptacle, and closes the receptacleto complete the transaction. This is shown at 35 in FIG. 3.

1. A method for testing the installation of a box with respect to areceiver, the receiver disposed to annunciate in the event of receipt ofa first signal, the box having a lid, the box further comprising atransmitter and an antenna, the method comprising the steps of: closingthe lid; transmitting a signal from the box; noting the absence of anannunciation; and repositioning the box relative to the receiver.
 2. Amethod for testing the installation of a box with respect to a receiver,the receiver disposed to annunciate in the event of receipt of a firstsignal, the box having a lid, the box further comprising a transmitterand an antenna, the transmitter powered by a battery, the methodcomprising the steps of: closing the lid; transmitting a signal from thebox; noting the absence of an annunciation; and replacing the battery.3. A method for testing the installation of a box with respect to areceiver, the receiver disposed to annunciate in the event of receipt ofa first signal, the box having a lid, the box further comprising atransmitter and an antenna, the method comprising the steps of: closingthe lid; transmitting a signal from the box; noting the absence of anannunciation; and replacing the box.